Articulable, rotatable, surgical clamping device

ABSTRACT

An articulable, rotatable, surgical clamping device which includes an upper handle portion connected to a fixed collar which acts on a center spindle element. The center spindle element subtended by a fixed collar slidingly engages clamp extender elements so as to alternately pull them towards each other or apart so as to clamp the clamping elements. The clamp extender elements being separated from the handle elements by a rotatable cuff which allows free rotation between the plane of articulation of the clamp elements and the plane containing the handle portions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a clamping device for use in theplacing of a placeable surgical clamp during a surgical procedure. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a device which isconveniently rotatable at a lower portion thereof and articulable sothat an attachable surgical clamping device may be accurately placedfrom virtually any approach to the point of application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior art surgical clamping for use in applying placeable surgicalclamps have, for the most part, comprised extended scissor-type lockableclamps with neither lower portion rotation or articulation. Owing totheir simplified construction, the prior art clamping devices have beenfairly inconvenient to use. Their rigidity, or single dimensionflexibility, permit only a limited flexibility for the user. The user,surgeon, must either make room for the use of the clamping device orplace the placeable clamp from a non-advantageous angle.

With the increasing complexity of many surgical procedures, i.e., inthat they are performed while looking through a microscope, it is mostdifficult to properly execute a close-quartered maneuver with inflexibleinstruments. Hence, the need for a clamping device with enhancedadaptability and flexibility is becoming greater as medical scienceenlarges the frontiers of surgical techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to avoid the inflexibility of prior artsurgical clamping devices. To this end, a clamping device according tothe present invention combines both articulation and rotation of thelower clamping elements with regard to the manipulated handle elements.In this manner, a user of a clamping device according to the presentinvention is able to precisely and advantageously place an attachablesurgical clamping device (or, for that matter, any surgical device) inthe surgical area with a minimum of inconvenience.

Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, aswell as the methods in operation and functions of the related elementsof the structure, and to the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdescription and the appended claims with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein likereferenced numerals designate corresponding parts in the variousfigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a surgical clamping device according tothe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a surgical clamping device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the clamping device along line 3--3 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a surgical clamping device according tothe present invention shown with the lower joint articulated androtatively displaced from the plane of the handle elements.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the clamping elements of the presentinvention engaged with a placeable surgical clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to drawing FIG. 1, the clamping device 10 will bedescribed. Although the clamping device 10 comprises many elements, theycan be broken down in series according to their function. In thismanner, reference numerals 12-20 designate linearly longitudinalelements, connected by joints 40-52, which perform the manipulating andclamping functions of the present invention. To further assist theclamping action, and also to provide rotation, the sliding collars androtating cuffs are designated generally be reference numerals 30-34. Incombination, these elements cooperate to provide a surgical clampingdevice which conveniently is articulable and rotatable and can bemanipulated by a single hand.

The center longitudinal spindle 12 is subtended at one end by lowersliding collar 32 and at its top end by fixed collar 34. Spindle element12 is of any convenient length depending on the size and range ofclamping action desired for a particular clamping device. Also, anycombination of handle element lengths 14 and 15, which are connected tocollar 34, with a chosen length of spindle 12 which results in aconveniently usable size configuration for a given operator's hand isrecommended. Handle elements 14 and 15 extend from fixed collar 34 in anarticulated manner such that relative motion between handle elements 14and 15 creates longitudinal movement in upper rotatable cuff portion 31along the length of spindle 12. Both of the rotatable cuff portions 31,and 30 are slidingly engaged around spindle element 12 and are looselyfixed together longitudinally by sleeve 33 and locking collar 35. Inthis manner, manipulation of handle elements 14 and 15, either towardsone another or apart, results in the slight movement of upper rotatorcuff 31 along spindle 12 towards or away from lower cuff portion 30.Lower rotatable cuff portion 30 has pivotally connected thereto, throughextension elements 16 (shown in FIG. 3), clamp extending elements 18.The clamp extender elements are connected in an articulated manner tolower cuff portion 30 (discussed infra in relation to FIG. 3) so as toallow sliding movement of lower sliding collar 34 to alternately spreador draw together clamp extenders 18.

It should be noted, that upper and lower rotatable cuff portions 30 and31 are capable of slight separation along sleeve 33 and are thereforeindependently rotatable thereabout. As will be explained elsewhere inthis specification, this feature allows for free rotation of the cuffportions when handle portions 14 and 15 are released and requires onlyslight pressure on handles 14 and 15, forcing cuffs 30 and 31 together,to maintain a rotated position of the lower clamp portion with respectto the handle elements when desired.

Clamp extender elements 18 are connected to clamping elements 20 atjoint 42. The clamping elements 20 are related by a conventionalscissors type joint with their jaw ends fitted with jaw elementssuitable for the desired task. For a given procedure, the jaw elementsmay be serrated, clamp engaging, cutting, etc. depending on the desireduse. In the instant embodiment, the jaw elements are constructed to asto interact with placeable surgical clamp 60 illustrated at the bottomof FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is side view of a surgical clamping device according to thepresent invention, and illustrates the relative direction ofarticulation permitted at joint 42. This relative plane of articulationcan, of course, be altered to any desired plane relative to the plane ofthe clamping elements 14 and 15 by rotation between cuff elements 30 and31.

All of the joints, reference numerals 40-52, are illustrated as simplepin and slot connectors in this embodiment. Of course, given the precisenature of such an instrument, it may be desirous for a more refinedjoint type to be used. Additionally, the joint type may be such that alimited range of movement is provided with specific gradationsseparating degrees of movement therein. Conversely, if it is desirous touse the clamping device for other precision work, i.e., in the repair ofelectronics components with limited space availability, the relativeproportions, joint types, and degrees of movement would necessarily beadjusted to suit.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 3--3 of FIG. 2. The upper andlower rotatable cuff portions 31 and 30 are both sectioned as well aslower sliding collar 32 and locking collar 35 and sleeve 33. In thisview, the details the of connections of clamp extenders 18 to the lowerrotatable cuff portion 30 are easily seen. An additional pin joint, 46,is located within lower cuff portion 30 and allows the controlledspreading or contracting of clamp extender elements 18 via connection tolower extension members 16. These members are related in this samemanner as handle elements 14 and 15, the only difference being that thecollar (the lower rotatable cuff portion 30) to which they are attachedis moveable along spindle 12.

In operation, sliding collar 32 moves along clamp extenders 18 andalternatively spreads or pulls them closer together. This movement istranslated through joints 42 to clamping elements 20.

Spindle 12 is moved upwardly by clamping action on handle elements 14and 15, and the handle elements, through joints 48, at the same instant,push downwardly on upper rotatable cuff portion 31. This pressure onrotatable cuff portion 31 urges cuff 31 against cuff portion 30 to stoprelative rotation therebetween. As spindle 12 moves upwardly, it alsopulls collar 32 upwardly along clamp extenders 18 drawing them towardsone another thus urging clamp elements 20 together in a clamping action.During this clamping motion, the rotation between upper and lower cuffportions 30 and 31 around sleeve 33 ceases and a desired plane ofarticulation of clamping elements 20 with regard to the clamp extenders18 is maintained. Joint 42 may be constructed as an interference-typehinge such that a certain amount of force is required beforearticulation is achieved. In this manner, a rotatable, articulableclamping device is achieved which allows convenient operator placementof surgical or other devices which require precision placement.

FIG. 4 illustrates upper and lower cuff portions 31 and 30 in arotatively displaced position with the lower cuff 30 rotated 90° fromupper cuff 31, thus enabling an operator's hand to be verticallyoriented while the clamp portions are horizontally oriented. Alsoillustrated is the relative articulation between clamp extenders 18 andclamp elements 20. Thus, an operator may conveniently position clamp 60within the clamping elements 20, manipulate articulated joint 42 androtation cuff 30 to obtain a desired configuration for the clampingdevice 10, and then single-handedly manipulate and release the clampingdevice 60 in a desired location.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of clamping elements 20 engaged with aplaceable surgical clamp 60. The surgical clamp 60 is a spring devicewhich resiliently urges its L-shaped clamping portions against oneanother in order to secure itself at a desired location. Clampingelements 20 must engage the sides of clamp 60 and urge same towards eachother so that the clamp may be opened. In this manner, clamp 60 providesits own spring release action for the clamp placing device 10.

Clamp 10 may also be provided with its own spring release means toobtain resilient response action as opposed to manual actuation. Ahelically wound spring may be placed around spindle 12 between cuff 30and collar 32 so as to provide a resilient force against an operator'sgrip. Another, leaf type, spring may also be positioned around spindle12 directly beneath fixed collar 34 to urge handle elements 15 into aspread position.

The sequence of operation of the articulable, rotatable, surgicalclamping device will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. Handleelements 14 and 15 are spread from one another simultaneously urgingfixed collar 34 downward. Since collar 34 is fixed to spindle 12,spindle 12 is also urged in a downward direction. Attached to the bottomend of spindle 12 is sliding collar 32 which is also urged downwardlybetween clamp extenders 18. The downward movement of collar 32 spreadsclamp extenders 18 which in turn acts to spread clamp elements 20. Aplaceable surgical clamp 60 is then inserted in between the jaw elementsof clamping elements 20. The resiliency of clamp 60 may in and of itselfkeep the clamp maintained in position between clamping elements 20, or,resilient spring members may be provided to urge clamping elements 20together so as to hold clamp 60 in place.

Once clamp 60 is in place, the relative articulation between clampextenders 18 and clamping elements 20 may be obtained by simply rotatingclamp elements 20 about joints 42 until the desired position isobtained. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower cuff portion 30 may berotated to a desired rotative displacement relative to handles 14 and 15and their associated upper cuff portion 31. Once the desired rotativedisplacement is obtained, handle elements 14 and 15 are urged towardstheir opposing members such that cuff member 31 is urged downwardlyalong sleeve 33 and fictionally engages cuff member 30. This engagementbetween the cuff members limits their relative rotative displacement.Simultaneously with the engagement between cuff members 31 and 30,spindle 12 is forced upwardly by the action of fixed collar 34. Thisupward movement of spindle 12 acts to slide collar 32 upwardly alongclamp extenders 18 so as to move them towards each other. In thismanner, clamp elements 20 are also moved together to clamp against clamp60. Thus, clamp 60 is prepared for convenient precision placement by theoperator.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A clamping device comprising:articulated handlemeans for manipulating said clamping device, said handle means havingfirst and second ends; said second end being connected to rotatable cuffmeans, said rotatable cuff means having split mutually rotatable firstand second portions; said second portion of said rotatable cuff meanshaving scissor-type clamping means attached thereto; said first end ofsaid handle means being connected to a first end of a longitudinalspindle which extends from said first end of said handle means throughsaid rotatable cuff means; a second end of said longitudinal spindlebeing fixedly attached to clamp spreader means which slidably engage andoperate said scissor-type clamping means.
 2. A clamping device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein:said first rotatable cuff portion comprisesa first slidable collar mounted along said spindle member for slidableengagement therewith, and said second rotatable cuff portion comprises asecond slidable collar mounted along said spindle member for slidableengagement therewith, so that compression of said pair of articulatedhandle elements towards one another urges said first slidable collaralong said spindle into frictional engagement with said second slidablecollar so as to limit the relative rotational displacement therebetween.3. A clamping device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:said clamp spreadermeans comprises a third slidable collar; and said scissor-type clampingmeans comprises a pair of longitudinal elements connected by a scissorsjoint and having articulated joints located along midportions thereofbetween said third slidable collar and said scissors joint; said thirdslidable collar slidably engaging said longitudinal elements so thatlongitudinal displacement therebetween results in the spreading ornarrowing of the relative separation between the longitudinal elements.4. A clamping device comprising:clamping means including opposed membersmounted for movement generally toward and away from each other between aclamping position and a released position; a support means and meansmounting said clamping means on said support means for rotation withrespect to said support means, said support means including actuatingmeans movable with respect to said clamping means between a firstposition wherein said opposed members are moved to said clampingposition and a second position wherein said opposed members are moved tosaid released position; said opposed members comprising a pair oflongitudinal elements, each element having a jaw end and connecting end,said longitudinal elements being connected to each other along midpointsthereof by a scissors joint, said connecting ends being articulatedlyconnected to said mounting means; said actuating means comprising a pairof articulated handle elements having first and second ends, said secondends being hindedly connected to said support means, said support meanscomprising a spindle element having first and second ends connected atsaid second end to a sliding collar, said sliding collar slidinglyengaging said longitudinal elements and moving said elements betweensaid clamping position and said release position.
 5. A clamping devicecomprising:clamping means including opposed members mounted for movementgenerally toward and away from each other between a clamping positionand a released position; a support means and means mounting saidclamping means on said support means for rotation with respect to saidsupport means, said support means including actuating means movable withrespect to said clamping means between a first position wherein saidopposed members are moved to said clamping position and a secondposition wherein said opposed members are moved to said releasedposition; said opposed members comprising a pair of longitudinalelements, each element having a jaw end and connecting end, saidlongitudinal elements being connected to each other along midpointsthereof by a scissors joint, said connecting ends being articulatedlyconnected to said mounting means; said actuating means comprising a pairof articulated handle elements having first and second ends, said secondends being hingedly connected to said support means, said support meanscomprising a spindle element having first and second ends connected atsaid second end to a sliding collar, said sliding collar slidinglyengaging said longitudinal elements and moving said elements betweensaid clamping position and said release position; said mounting meanscomprising first and second rotation collars, said first and secondrotation collars being mounted along said spindle for independentrotational movement thereabout, said first collar hingedly connected tosaid second ends of said handle elements, said second collar beinghingedly connected to said connecting ends.